The USS Macon was built at the Goodyear Airdock in Springfield Township (Akron) by the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation. This was by far the biggest airship ever to be built in America. A team of experienced German airship engineers—led by Chief Designer Karl Arnstein—instructed and supported design and construction of both the U.S. Navy airships Macon and Akron.
With a single dry goods store at 114 East Market Street, Michael O’Neil and his partner Isaac Dyas began a retail empire that is still remembered by Akronites. In 1912, O’Neil sold his popular stores to the May Department Stores Company for $1 million. His well-respected name continued to serve as the brand until the downtown location (built in…
The lower bridge was built in 1895, while the upper double-track streetcar bridge was built in 1903. Both bridges spanned the Gorge between Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, located near the road that is now Front Street, north of Cuyahoga Falls Avenue.
The City Hospital of Akron had its inception in a fund left by an early resident, Boniface DeRoo. The fund which represented the lifetime savings of a frugal hard working man, amounted to $10,000. The first building used for the hospital was an old frame house at the corner of Broadway Street and Center Street.…
“South Main Street is the main thoroughfare in Akron. Most of the leading stores, theaters, and hotels are located on this street. It is the dividing line for cross streets, all numbered running east and west start from here. State Routes Nos. 8, 18 and 36 pass through South Main Street.” – Federman’s, Shulans, Bear’s,…
The high school was located on Forge Street, between College and Union Streets, facing Union Park. The school was established in 1857, but the pictured building was erected in 1885 at a cost of $135,000.
Founded in 1892, Akron’s City hospital was the first accredited radiology department in the United States. The hospital was also a pioneer in open heart surgery. Akron City Hospital is also the birthplace of basketball legends LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Today, the hospital is part of the large Summa Health hospital system.
During the rapid growth of the rubber industry in Akron, Springfield Lake became a resort area. Summer cottages were built around the lake. Springfield Lake Park was built in the early 1900s and included a merry-go-round, dodge-em cars, and various other amusement facilities. One of the main attractions was a roller coaster that extended out…
The Mayflower hotel was located at the corner of State and Main. In this view, it was a DeWitt operated hotel.
By 1926 Goodyear was the largest rubber company in the world. Only four years earlier it was forced to temporarily halt production of racing tires due to heavy competition. Nevertheless, the popularity of the Goodyear tire on the racing circuit led to a popular demand for the return of the brand.
Interurban cars are lined up outside the Hamilton Building on South Main Street. It’s another busy day in Akron.
In 1904, the Central Savings Bank merged with the Akron Trust Company to form the Central Savings & Trust Company. Before moving to the Hamilton Building (renamed the Central Savings & Trust Building in 1918) this was the banks home. A beautiful multistory office building on Akron’s Main Street. In 1931 the bank, under a new name, moved…
Weekend Getaway During the rapid growth of Akron’s rubber industry, Springfield Lake became a popular getaway resort. Summer cottages popped up at Sawyerwood and Lakemore. In the early 1900’s, the Springfield Lake Park was constructed. It was briefly the largest amusement park in all of Ohio. Attractions included a merry-go-round, dodge-em cars, a roller coaster, a…
More than a century ago, on July 4th, 1917, Summit Beach Park opened its door for the first time. Akronites were drawn by rides like the park’s roller coaster, carousel and ferris wheel. But the park offered more than thrill rides, it also had a dance hall, penny arcade, boat launch and steamboat rides.
“It takes energy, foresight and ability to pull against the current.” – Harvey Firestone Harvey Firestone was convinced that there was a large market to be tapped in automobile tires. His vision would become the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. By 1926, Firestone’s company was producing more than 10 million tires a year, about 25…
Amelia flats was a five-story apartment building, which stood on Park Street across from picturesque Grace Park, it was one of the city’s earliest apartment houses when opened in 1901.
Opened in 1891 by John B. Groetz (1866-1951), this late 19th-century hotel was a popular meeting place for famous politicians, businessmen, and athletes. Mark Hanna, the right-hand man of President McKinley, often dined here. Thomas Edison, a good friend of Harvey Firestone, was also a frequent visitors. Location: – Demolished – Portage Lakes Drive in Portage Lakes, Ohio.
Was Goodyear big in Akron? Oh yeah. By the early 1900’s this plant had one million square feet of rubber making floor space and covered 41 acres!
The Portage Country Club has long been an athletic and social center for Akron’s most prominent families. The second clubhouse (pictured here) was destroyed by fire in 1921. The new clubhouse opened in May 1923. Location: corner of Twin Oaks and Portage Path.
The First Flying Aircraft CarrierBetween September 1931 and April 1933, the Navy’s USS Akron (ZRS-4) sailed the skies as the world’s first purpose-built flying aircraft carrier. Designed to revolutionize naval aviation, the Akron housed F9C Sparrowhawk fighter planes inside its massive body. These planes could be launched and recovered mid-flight using an innovative trapeze system,…
Created by Ralph H. Lodge, Silver Lake Park and Chautauqua Park were a popular regional resort accessible by streetcar and rail. Silver Lake featured boating, swimming, and a large pavilion with a 15,000 square-foot dance floor, a freshwater aquarium, an airfield, and the Chautauqua Auditorium (pictured here) that featured prominent speakers of the day.
Building Airship ZRS-4 Construction of Airship ZRS-4 began on October 31, 1929 at the Goodyear-Zeppelin Airdock. wish was a purpose-built hanger for the construction of these massive airships. On November 7 that year, Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, the Chief of the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics, drove the “golden rivet” in the ship’s first main ring. Erection of the hull sections began…
Built in 1884, Akron High School sat on the block created by Union, College, Buchtel and Forge Streets. The school was renamed Central High School after the 1911 construction of South High School. Akron’s Central High was demolished in 1973 and replaced by Central-Hower High School.
July 4, 1917 began an exciting era in Akron History, that of Summit Beach Park. The amusement park opened its gates with great fanfare and provided entertainment to Akronites for 40 years before abruptly closing its doors forever.
The area around Springfield Lake became a popular resort spot as Akron’s rubber industries boomed. The rapid success in Akron led to the construction of summer getaway cottages at the lake – some of which still exist today as full-time residences. One of the first entrepreneurs to see the potential of Springfield Lake was Carl Weiland. He established a…